We will have no fear – Monty

Europe captain Colin Montgomerie wants a Ryder Cup team that is totally fearless – and does not mind how young they are.

Rising star Rory McIlroy is 20 and new ‘Race to Dubai’ leader Martin Kaymer is 24, while Montgomerie has also been impressed by 26-year-old Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, now firmly established as the biggest hitter on either the European or United States tours.

Colin Montgomerie

Asked if he could turn back the clock and start his career all over again the 46-year-old commented: “No – they are better than me. The potential is there to emulate the top five we had (Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam won 16 majors between them).”

He added: “I was never in that league. I had doubts they don’t seem to have. There is no fear.

“I remember in 1999 that Sergio Garcia (19 at the time) was fearless going into the Ryder Cup and if McIlroy, Kaymer and Quiros make the team I envisage the same thing.

“I want a team that not in any way, shape or form has any fear of the Americans.”

Europe’s captain had predicted that “four or five” possible members of his side would finish in the top 10 at the US PGA Championship on Sunday.

As it was Lee Westwood and McIlroy shared third place, Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Soren Kjeldsen were joint sixth and Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari tied for 10th.

“I think that’s our best ever performance in an American major and that should help us to go on and have more major champions,” said the Scot.